Birthday Fun!

My husband turned 25 on Monday and boy did we celebrate!

I started planning his party last December by inviting four of his good friends from Alabama and North Carolina to surprise him for his birthday week. Two of them were able to make it and they showed up on our doorstep the night of his party! They were able to stay for nine whole days and we had such a fun week (other then the flu bug being passed around between the four of us!). We went to a winery, a Brewer's game (my very first!), and to Green Bay, Wi. We also got in lots of Mexican Train Domino's and Spades...the girls beat the boys!

The birthday party was low-key, but fun. We grilled brats and hot dogs, had chili and cheese to make chili dogs, chips and watermelon. The birthday boy requested key lime pie instead of cake. So I made a strawberry shortcake to compliment the pie and some cake pops, because they are fun and yummy! :)

Strawberry Layer Cake
recipe by Martha Stewart

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temp.
3 C all-purpose flour
2 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
course salt
1 3/4 C granulates sugar
4 large eggs, at room temp.
1 1/3 C buttermilk, at room temp.
1 TBSP vanilla

Filling
2 lbs strawberries
1/4 C granulated sugar
1 TBSP lemon juice
course salt
3 TBSP confectioners sugar
2 C cold heavy cream
1 1/2 C strawberry jam

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour two 9" round cake pans and line with parchment paper. Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, beat butter and sugar on high until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to medium and add eggs one at a time. Beat in flour mixture, alternating with buttermilk. Begin and end with flour mixture. Bake about 40 minutes. Let cool in pans on wire rack for at least 20 minutes. Slice the strawberries and combine with sugar, lemon juice and 1/4 tsp salt. Let stand, stirring occasionally for 3o minutes. (I did this overnight so I had less work in the morning. The strawberries weren't as firm, but I prefer them a little softer anyway.) Strain strawberries and reserve syrup. Beat heavy cream with confectioners sugar until peaks form. Trim cake tops and slice in half, horizontally. Brush each with syrup and spread with jam. Top with strawberries and whip cream. Repeat with each layer. So yummy!


Watch for a fun, easy craft post later this week!